Hubble image shows deepest view of universe ever

Feast your eyes on this: The deepest and most detailed view of the universe that exists on Earth.

The assembled image below was released today by NASA, showing a what actually lies within a relatively small field of view just a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full moon.

Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken of a patch of sky at the center of the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field. (Credit: NASA; ESA; G. Illingworth, D. Magee, and P. Oesch, University of California, Santa Cruz; R. Bouwens, Leiden University; and the HUDF09 Team)

Impressive, right? But maybe not as impressive as the individual pieces.

In the gallery below, take a look at what else the Hubble telescope has spotted over the years. (Captions below images.)

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A barred spiral galaxy about 70 million light years away and more than 100,000 light years across.

A barred spiral galaxy about 70 million light years away and more than 100,000 light years across.

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One of the Antennae galaxies.

One of the Antennae galaxies.

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The galaxy Messier 64, the result of a collision between two galaxies, about 17 million light years from Earth.

The galaxy Messier 64, the result of a collision between two galaxies, about 17 million light years from Earth.

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Galaxy NGC 3079, which appears to have a gaseous bubble at its center.

Galaxy NGC 3079, which appears to have a gaseous bubble at its center.

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NGC 6302, also called the Bug Nebula, only about 4,000 light years away.

NGC 6302, also called the Bug Nebula, only about 4,000 light years away.

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NGC 3372, the Great Nebula in Carina, about 300 light years across and 7,500 light years from Earth.

NGC 3372, the Great Nebula in Carina, about 300 light years across and 7,500 light years from Earth.

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The Cat's Eye nebula (NGC 6543) with a dying star at its core.

The Cat's Eye nebula (NGC 6543) with a dying star at its core.

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The galaxy Centaurus A, which has a massive black hole at its center, about 11 million light years away.

The galaxy Centaurus A, which has a massive black hole at its center, about 11 million light years away.

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Looking from the top down (or bottom up) at NGC 4911, in the Coma Cluster of galaxies a staggering 320 million light years from Earth.

Looking from the top down (or bottom up) at NGC 4911, in the Coma Cluster of galaxies a staggering 320 million light years from Earth.

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Supernova 1987A, about 163,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Supernova 1987A, about 163,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

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The Cone Nebula, only about 2,500 light years away.

The Cone Nebula, only about 2,500 light years away.

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The Crab Nebula as seen in this composite photo combining images from Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, each capturing a different spectrum of light.

The Crab Nebula as seen in this composite photo combining images from Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, each capturing a different spectrum of light.

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The Crab Nebula as shot by Hubble alone. It's about 6,500 light years away in the constellation Taurus.

The Crab Nebula as shot by Hubble alone. It's about 6,500 light years away in the constellation Taurus.

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Galaxy Cluster Abell 1689, am unbelievable 2.2 billion light years from Earth. Gravity from the cluster is warping the view of galaxies in the background (even further away!) and NASA has provided a colored overlay to indicate the location of dark matter. less

Galaxy Cluster Abell 1689, am unbelievable 2.2 billion light years from Earth. Gravity from the cluster is warping the view of galaxies in the background (even further away!) and NASA has provided a colored ... more

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A portion of the Eagle Nebula, one of the so-called "Pillars of Creation."

A portion of the Eagle Nebula, one of the so-called "Pillars of Creation."

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A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

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A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

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Yet another view of one of the "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

Yet another view of one of the "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

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A distant quasar and its five stars, with the light-bending effect occasionally seen in images of extremely distant objects.

A distant quasar and its five stars, with the light-bending effect occasionally seen in images of extremely distant objects.

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This is the center of our galaxy, a composite photo taken by Hubble in near-infrared light, the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

This is the center of our galaxy, a composite photo taken by Hubble in near-infrared light, the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

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Another composite shot from the three telescopes, this one of the Antennae galaxies.

Another composite shot from the three telescopes, this one of the Antennae galaxies.

Photo: Chandra X-ray Observatory Center

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The "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

The "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

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The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293, only 650 light years away.

The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293, only 650 light years away.

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The famous Horsehead Nebula, which resides in the constellation Orion.

The famous Horsehead Nebula, which resides in the constellation Orion.

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This is a plume of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light years away.

This is a plume of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light years away.

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Hubble is perhaps at its best when trained upon the closest objects. This spectacular shot shows the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, just two planets away.

Hubble is perhaps at its best when trained upon the closest objects. This spectacular shot shows the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, just two planets away.

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A near-infrared shot of Jupiter showing the shadows of three of its moons -- Io, Ganymede, and Callisto -- on the surface.

A near-infrared shot of Jupiter showing the shadows of three of its moons -- Io, Ganymede, and Callisto -- on the surface.

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Giant storms occasionally erupt through the swirling gases of Jupiter; here, an infrared image of storm activity is superimposed on a Hubble image taken at roughly the same time.

Giant storms occasionally erupt through the swirling gases of Jupiter; here, an infrared image of storm activity is superimposed on a Hubble image taken at roughly the same time.

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A close-up view of two "twisters" in the Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8), 5,000 light years away.

A close-up view of two "twisters" in the Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8), 5,000 light years away.

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NASA's "Astronomy Picture of the Day" describes it best: "For reasons unknown, star V838 Mon's outer surface suddenly greatly expanded with the result that it became the brightest star in the entire Milky Way Galaxy in January 2002. Then, just as suddenly, it faded. A stellar flash like this has never been seen before ..." less

NASA's "Astronomy Picture of the Day" describes it best: "For reasons unknown, star V838 Mon's outer surface suddenly greatly expanded with the result that it became the brightest star in the entire Milky Way ... more

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Here's a planet that needs no introduction.

Here's a planet that needs no introduction.

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Mars in 1997, when it was only about 60 million miles from Earth, a relatively close pass.

Mars in 1997, when it was only about 60 million miles from Earth, a relatively close pass.

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Mars in 2001, when it was less than 45 million miles away.

Mars in 2001, when it was less than 45 million miles away.

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The "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

The "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

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Back to Jupiter. This photo shows additional red spots, or swirling storms in the clouds of gas.

Back to Jupiter. This photo shows additional red spots, or swirling storms in the clouds of gas.

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A close-up view of the center of the Centaurus A galaxy.

A close-up view of the center of the Centaurus A galaxy.

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The nebula in Orion, about 1,500 light years away.

The nebula in Orion, about 1,500 light years away.

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Pandora’s Cluster, a cluster of galaxies that appear to have been created by a collision of four separate clusters.

Pandora’s Cluster, a cluster of galaxies that appear to have been created by a collision of four separate clusters.

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A longer view of the "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

A longer view of the "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

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The often-observed Ring Nebula, about 2,000 light years away and one light year across.

The often-observed Ring Nebula, about 2,000 light years away and one light year across.

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Saturn, with its rings at maximum tilt of 27 degrees, shot in ultraviolet light.

Saturn, with its rings at maximum tilt of 27 degrees, shot in ultraviolet light.

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An unusual perspective on Saturn from 2009.

An unusual perspective on Saturn from 2009.

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Saturn's amazing rings.

Saturn's amazing rings.

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The Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, as seen in infrared light.

The Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, as seen in infrared light.

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Another view of the Sombrero, 50,000 light years across and 28 million light years from Earth.

Another view of the Sombrero, 50,000 light years across and 28 million light years from Earth.

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The M81 galaxy, a bright spiral about 12 million light years from Earth.

The M81 galaxy, a bright spiral about 12 million light years from Earth.

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The spiral galaxy M100, in a 1993 image that proved, by its clarity, the success of the Space Shuttle astronauts in repairing Hubble.

The spiral galaxy M100, in a 1993 image that proved, by its clarity, the success of the Space Shuttle astronauts in repairing Hubble.

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Spiral galaxy M74.

Spiral galaxy M74.

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This image is from a portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 175,000 light years from Earth.

This image is from a portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 175,000 light years from Earth.

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The dwarf galaxy NGC 4214, a nursery for young stars, about 10 million light years away.

The dwarf galaxy NGC 4214, a nursery for young stars, about 10 million light years away.

Hubble captured the burning debris from an exploding star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the light from which first reached Earth in 1987.

Hubble captured the burning debris from an exploding star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the light from which first reached Earth in 1987.

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A supernova "ribbon," the remnant of a giant explosion from roughly 1,000 years ago.

A supernova "ribbon," the remnant of a giant explosion from roughly 1,000 years ago.

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The Omega Nebula, 5,500 light years away.

The Omega Nebula, 5,500 light years away.

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A daramatic view of Uranus, with storms raging on the surface, rings clearly visible and 10 moons orbiting the planet.

A daramatic view of Uranus, with storms raging on the surface, rings clearly visible and 10 moons orbiting the planet.

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Uranus and its moon Ariel, casting a shadow on the planet.

Uranus and its moon Ariel, casting a shadow on the planet.

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Venus in ultraviolet light, from 1995.

Venus in ultraviolet light, from 1995.

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A plume of gas and dust spouts from a volcanic eruption on Jupiter's moon Io.

A plume of gas and dust spouts from a volcanic eruption on Jupiter's moon Io.

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Hubble found a field of white dwarf stars in our own galaxy that helped astronomers more accurately estimate the age of the universe.

Hubble found a field of white dwarf stars in our own galaxy that helped astronomers more accurately estimate the age of the universe.

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The Small Magellanic Cloud, about 210,000 light years from Earth.

The Small Magellanic Cloud, about 210,000 light years from Earth.

Hubble image shows deepest view of universe ever

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Back to Gallery

OK, enough eye candy. Now stop and think about what’s really being shown in the NASA image released Tuesday. This image, patched together from 10 years worth of photos, features about 5,500 galaxies. The faintest galaxies are reportedly one ten-billionth the brightness of what the human eye can detect.

Magnificent spiral galaxies similar in shape to our Milky Way and the neighboring Andromeda galaxy appear in this image, as do the large, fuzzy red galaxies where the formation of new stars has ceased. These red galaxies are the remnants of dramatic collisions between galaxies and are in their declining years. Peppered across the field are tiny, faint, more distant galaxies that were like the seedlings from which today’s magnificent galaxies grew. The history of galaxies — from soon after the first galaxies were born to the great galaxies of today, like our Milky Way — is laid out in this one remarkable image.

One more fun fact for you to wrap your head around: The image reveals galaxies 13.2 billion years back in time. NASA researchers are calling the image a “time tunnel into the distant past.”